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Local resident warns DeSoto jurors about possible Toledo Bend water sale; jurors say approval path is complex
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Summary
Al Jenkins told the DeSoto Parish Police Jury the Sabine River Authority may be planning sales from Toledo Bend that could affect Louisiana's share; jurors said they have not approved any sale and described multiple agency and parish approval layers that would be required.
Al Jenkins, a resident of Florien, told the DeSoto Parish Police Jury during public comment that he believes plans are under way to sell water from Toledo Bend and urged jurors to oppose any transfer of water rights.
“We're trying to help the people of the community to stop the sale of the water off of Toledo Bend,” Jenkins said, describing a 1951 compact that he said gives Louisiana 50% ownership of the Sabine River waters and warning that pipeline work could enable continued or expanded sales. He said a letter of intent exists and that planned pipeline capacity could be scaled up, which he described as “non‑sustainable.”
Jurors and staff asked Jenkins questions and reported follow‑up contacts with Sabine River Authority (SRA) leadership. One juror said he had called the SRA president and was told Jenkins regularly brings this topic to police jury meetings. Another juror, who said he was appointed to the SRA board to represent DeSoto Parish, said from his experience there is not currently a parish representative willing to support selling Louisiana's portion and described several state and federal agency steps that would be required for a sale.
Legal and staff comments emphasized that the process would go through multiple approvals and that several agencies have issued negative letters about such sales. As staff summarized, even if the SRA board or a letter of intent exists, “there's like seven layers of agencies that you have to go through to complete this thing” before a transfer could proceed.
Why it matters: Jenkins framed the issue as protecting local navigation, industry and riparian rights; jurors said DeSoto Parish would be one of many entities whose consent or regulatory actions would affect whether water could be sold or transferred.
What happened next: The jury did not take formal action on a water sale at this meeting. Jurors recorded concern and said they would monitor developments and rely on intergovernmental work already under way with legislators in both states.
Staff and jurors also directed public requests to the SRA and state agencies for clarifying documents and noted that lawsuits and regulatory steps at the state and federal level would affect any future proposals. The meeting record shows no parish vote approving transfer of water rights.
